Grave cover



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,654

. w. BUEL GRAVE COVER Fil ed Au 22, 1925 H7 TOP/var Patented Sept. 11, 192s.

a a a 1,683,654 ,UNITED STATES PATENT?OFFICE. a

WALTER Bonn or sit. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GRAVE COVER. i

Application med August 22, 1925. Serial No. 51,828.

. My invention relates to covers for graves and specifically to alcover adapted to preserve at all times the original contour of the grave and prevent the." growth of weeds and other vegetation d r tly above the grave.

. .The object of myinvention is to provide a I provide a suitable base for securely holding 15 i an urn or flower pot in place. 7 o

A further object of my invention is to provide a gravecover that has an opening where flowers or shrubbery may be planted, so that their growth will be confined to a single area, and the balance of the grave will be protected by the cover against the growth of weeds and other vegetation. e

Another objectof my invention is tojprovide means by which the grave covermay be readily adjusted and maintained in a horizontal position indefinitely. V r

a Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the specificationand claim, and are, also, illustrated by the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view. 1 I Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away. y

The problem of taking care of a grave from year to year so that it will present an attraotive and well kept appearance is attended withmany, difficulties, among which is the perennial growth of weeds and'other vegetation, or the settling or sinking of the ground." V

Attempts to overcome, these difficulties have been made by the use of marble or granite slabs placed horizontally upon the top of the grave. In climates subject to wide variations of temperature or heavy rainfall, either the rain causes the grave to settle with the consequent tilting of the slabs from a horizon tal position, or the freezing andthawing of the ground has disarranged, and in most 1 cases, shifted the slabs fromtheir original position.

Another objection-to the marble slabs is that they are quite expensive and become disclored with age. 7

In order'to overcome the difliculties above set forth, I have devised a coverwhich may be made of sheet metal in a variety of ornamental designs and which may be securely connected to a plurality of'posts which can be set intothe ground at a depth below the freezing line, hence the grave cover remainshori zontal permanently exactly in its Original plane", while at the same time it eflectively prevents theigrowthofweeds or other vegetation immediately above the grave. r

But,owing to the vicissitudes of fortune, 1t often happens. that the care of graves of deceased 18lLl)lV6S become such a financial burden that they are often neglected which,

also, frequently occurs when the immediate relatives of the deceased move to considerable distances from their original place of abode.

of ornamental designs, or cast iron. In either p case an outercoating of delf or granite enamel 1s applled at high temperature by means of Y which a permanent coating is obtained that is unaffected by weather or age, so that the cover permanently remainsneat and attractive. a r a I As shown in Fig.- 1 my improved grave cover consists of a plain rectangular surface Y 1, having its marginal edges 2 of allfour sides turned downwardly, substantiallyat right angles to the plain surface 1, andslightly rounded at the corners 3. i The longitudinal edges 4 present a straight-line edge which is turned downwardly and can sorted in the soil.

ing the ends is turned inwardly parallel to the plain surface of the upper side, to provide suitable hearings to which are attached a plurality of standards 6 adapted'to engage openings of like contour in a plurality of stakes 7. Intermediate of the ends and inthe lateral At each end a portion 5 of the metalformbe slightly incenter of the cover an opening is provided'in which the metal is turned downwardly to I:

' inwardly to form a rest or support for a flower pot or vases The geometrical center of the annular depression 8 isprovided with an aperture 110 through-which-seed or shruhbery may be: planted in the ground dimmediately below. a H v v It is evident that if the stakes 7 are set into the ground at a depth bel'o'w'tlie frost line and the cover'adjusted on to of the Stflke S dIhB cover will be unaffected 'y the upheaval of the frozen earth. t

It is wellknown that a porcelain enamel when properly applied will not? discolor "with agey-nor be deleteriously. affeetedeby atmospheric eoniditions. A

it is; obvious that when jmyicover is"prop= erly :tinsti1lled,-:the expenseo'f taking care of avgrave will be "ery: greatly reduced and-at 1 'InRwitness whereofzhhave hereunto aflii ied the'sanieytimethe grave w n present arwell cared tom-appearance"hfter many wyears.

' A grave eza'ver'bf the class described, oom- ;prising a metal cover of a size and shape to cover a grave, an annular ,(lBPlGSSlOIl in its itransversementen and intermediate'its ends,

a circumferential flange projecting inwardly about the? bottom of said depression leaving an opening in'the hottomv of said" depression, means for supportingusaid?cover fill position so that itwill-notbe movedrout of'glapeeby the freezingvund thawing ofthel earl:

mysignature ithis lflday inf August,'1925; 4 

